Fun fact: ref Gene Steratore who oversaw the MIA-PIT fumble debacle today, also was there for the Calvin Johnson TD un-catch in Week 1. He is also from Pennsylvania, lives in Washington, Pennsylvania and apparently is a Steelers fan. I've also heard that Roger Goodell has actually said this is a disappointment and will be investigated. Not sure if that is true and it doesn't bring our win back.
Anyone who saw the process unfold understands that Steratore was doing everything he could to ensure the Steelers would get points out of that play. He went against EVERYTHING refs are taught to do in that situation. I mean, you're really going to let a Steelers fan be the ref in a Steelers game? Come on NFL. That's just sad.
I read the Goodell comment on a board, so it might not be true, take it with a grain of salt. I imagine he WILL say something though. Everyone remembers what happened to that World Cup ref who screwed the USA. Well this a-hole not only blew this today, he was there for the calvin johnson issue. That's the two biggest ref controversies of the year, and he was in both. He should be fined or fired or not allowed to do any games for the season. The biggest problem is they called it a TD right away and didn't even go into the pile to see who got the ball. Relying on some video technology is not how a ref does their job.
Fire Steratore. Suspend any other official who didn't follow NFL protocol during that play. If this team makes it to within 1 game of the playoffs this year...
Referees in the NFL are taught to let the play run it's course. The fact that he came running out of there announcing Steelers TD RIGHT OFF THE BAT, was a god damn joke. I've never seen a referee do something like that.
Let's make one thing clear. This was not a close play where the officials made a judgment call. Those are officiating 'errors' you just sorta live with. This was really, really poor officiating. If this guy is in fact from PA, and a Steelers fan, that just makes it worse. Hate to be paranoid, but even at the time I thought it was so odd that this guy tells the crowd the play was a touchdown literally seconds after the fumble and while players are still scrambling for the ball. Unacceptable.
Thats the biggest thing. People make mistakes, no biggie. But this one was not just a mistake, he didn't do his job and neither did the others. They didn't check the pile or anything. Players are scrambling to get the fumble and he's busy calling it a Touchdown. Adam Schefter: Controversy this week shifts from helmet-to-helmet hits to referees who make game-deciding calls (Gene Steratore is from Pittsburgh). He is confirmed from Pittsburgh
Meh, he called the play correctly, not much more he can do in that situation as an individual. Now as a group, from the line judge to the backfield guys, to the referee they blew the call simply because they failed to see the play through which from my understanding they are supposed to do. The line judge ruled a TD when it was not clear the ball had passed the goal line. How many times do we see these officials stand around not making calls that are clear and here is a guy making a judgment without the proper sight line. Failure #1. Upon seeing the ball loose they all failed to follow through to determine possession regardless of the TD signal. They are supposed to let the play complete in these situations. Failure #2. The referee or field judge (not sure who is responsible) must make certain that all possibilities are examined in questionable plays before a definitive determination is made. Failure #3.
He was way too quick to call what he wanted to see and got that call wrong. The play probably wouldn't have needed to be reviewed had he gotten the call right. The scrum would have ensued for the lost ball would proven to have been recovered by one of the two Dolphins who pounced on it by rule of play. Lazy officiating if I've ever seen it. But alas, this will be a weekly story in this game because NFL referees are above the game and, unlike each and every player are not held accountable for their actions. But hey, bad calls are part of the game, right? Good teams overcome officiating right? Officiating as the almighty obstacle has become accepted as the norm in this league. Just another Sunday for the NFL.
On The Field Transcript from Gene Steratore “After the review, it has been determined that prior to the ball crossing the goal line, the runner did lose possession of the ball, We do not have clear evidence of the team recovering the ball. Therefore Pittsburgh will have the ball, fourth-and-goal at the half-yard line.” real translation "By rule, the Steelers cannot lose this game."
Did you watch the entire game? Seriously? Because we had every opportunity to NOT BE IN THAT POSITION!
And how does that change the fact that we got screwed? The Steelers could have iced the game earlier too, but they didn't have to...they got bailed out at our expense.
True but they created an opportunity that was taken from them. They had the ball. A Dolphins player came out with the ball. It should have been their ball.
Forget that Rapistberger fumbled a dozen times. We should have just played better. Forget that we had already done more against that D than anybody else up to this point.
And your dad has every opportunity to be your mom. Doesnt mean he is. Unless he fumble and lost his balls.
Instant replay has no business being in the hands of the on field ref's. They should have a group in the booth review and make a decision.
Apparently not and the booth official is technically part of the ground crew. Instant Replay Football: NFL gives it a second look, and Tagliabue says new computerized system is huge improvement over version used in the late '80s. September 12, 1999|LONNIE WHITE | TIMES STAFF WRITER The outcry for instant replay to return to the NFL reached a peak in last season's playoffs when the Green Bay Packers complained that they would not have lost a wild-card game to San Francisco if officials had an opportunity to review a controversial fumble by Jerry Rice on the 49ers' game-winning touchdown drive. During the off-season, NFL owners decided something had to be done to get rid of the bad taste left from a couple of highly publicized erroneous calls last season. Enter the NFL's instant "challenge" replay, a more advanced system than the league used from 1986 to '91. "Our goal is to take advantage of advanced technology to create the most efficient replay system possible," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "We believe we have developed that type of system. It uses advanced technology, but it is simple to operate. We did not want to bring back replay with the same system as 10 years ago." In the original version, neither coaches nor referees were involved. A replay official stationed upstairs decided when to stop the game to check a play and when to overturn a call made on the field. The replay official used two VCRs to review plays. The league's new computerized system--developed by Leitch, a Toronto-based technology company--still reviews every play, but now coaches are permitted two challenges per game, using a pager device to notify officials. In the last two minutes of each half, only the replay official can stop the game to review a questionable call. At every game, four individuals work the replay booth: a replay official, technician, video operator and communicator. The replay assistant is the only link to the field referee, who makes the final decision on the call. "Now, the referees make all the decisions," said Mike Pereira, an NFL supervisor of officials. "We don't make any decisions upstairs. I don't think [officials] will be intimidated. We still empower them to make the decisions. I don't think they'll change the way they officiate. This is a great stride from where we were." The old replay system lasted six NFL seasons but from Day 1 it had problems. Too often, games were stopped for long periods of time to review calls and the correct decision wasn't always reached. Officials on the field were out of the decision-making process and simply awaited word from upstairs. Ads by Google
Nope... The booth folks can make a determination whether or not a challenge is necessary inside of 2 minutes, but the field ref makes the final decision... As I understand it...
Wow. Unbelievable. So theoretically the field guy can opt to "confirm" the ruling should he wish to. The "undisputed video evidence" part always did seem completely subjective though (see also: last week)
That ref and the ref who ****ed England against Germany got suspended for the rest of the World Cup, and rightfully so.
I've been watching football for over 50 years and don't ever recall a fumble being a loss of down spotted at the original spot. The two officials in the secondary clearly disregarded the TD call and sorted through the scrum, made the call that Miami recovered the fumble and weren't consulted as far a possession is concerned. This is not only a tough loss for our Dolphins but an embarrassment for the NFL officials.
That's just it. It goes against everything that officials normally do in that situation. It goes against common sense. It's like he did it on purpose. Refs normally always rule a possible fumble a fumble on the field just to establish possession in case it is one. Sometimes even when it's obviously not a fumble. Just to be sure. This call today was a joke. It is truly unbelievable.
Everyone says this will be overlooked, and swept under the rug. But what if this costs the Jets home field advantage ? Think some Jets fans might be unhappy right now too ?
Dolfan Bandits Facebook: CHANNING CROWDER told WQAM that even the REFEREES told HIM..that he RECOVERED the football..but it had to be "Proven" on Replay! I think the League now has to make this CREW responsible to their actions. These guys had more time than a Baseball 7th Inning Stretch to get this play right..totally were confused themselves on what to Rule. Knew it wouldn't be long to hear Crowder mention it. This is just horrible, hopefully the Dolphins can take this and use it to fuel them for the rest of the season. They're gonna need it now.
For the record: Ref who made the call is a Pittsburg Native hmmmmm.......Link...............last sentence http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...al-goal-line-replay-review-aid?urn=nfl-279435
Can they just not let the head refs ref a game in which one of the teams locations is where he's from (best way I could word it)? Or at least start with the refs from Pitt
Heres some crap for you.... Look at the play....why did the refs jump so quickly to rule it a TD. They just give up looking to see who recovered the fumble....so theres ONE huge mistake....and then he f's it up because its quite obvious who ended up with the ball...WE FN HANDED IT TO THEM!
Seems like a logical request. How can you guarantee even and fair competition when you let the Referee referee a game of the team he is a fan of and/or from where he grew up???? Seems pretty easy This whole thing reeks................and we should demand Goodell do something about it.